June Events

June 10, 2010. CARA BLACK. Why There Are Words Literary Reading Series presents authors reading their work on the theme of "Heat" June 10, 2010. 7 PM, Studio 333, 333 Caledonia St., Sausalito. $5. Cara Black will read from MURDER IN THE LATIN QUARTER, shortlisted for Best Novel 2009 by the Northern California Association of Independent Booksellers. More info at http://whytherearewords.wordpress.com.

June 10, 2010. SONIA KORN-GRIMANI speaks about UN CHANT D’ESPOIR at the ALLIANCE FRANÇAISE DE SAN FRANCISCO. Seize this unique opportunity to meet with Sonia, and hear her tell us about her book, "Un Chant d'Espoir". "This is the incredible story of a multi-faceted woman who courageously survived the adversities of Nazi domination and grew to blossom into the most remarkable personality. As a young girl, Sonia miraculously managed to disentangle herself from the spider web of Nazi persecution. She fled her native Germany to Belgium on the eve of the German invasion of Belgium in May 1940, and was placed in an orphanage there, where she and the other children suffered from starvation, humiliation and neglect. After the war, Sonia studied music at world-class conservatories, and obtained a doctorate in French literature. She sang classical and European traditional songs over the radio and on television, and quickly became an international sensation, an intellectual globetrotter, and lecturer at universities all over the world. She has taught French to a Queen, was knighted by the French Government for her contributions to French culture across the world, and has now written this fascinating memoir, for the first time in French. This is Sonia's amazing story, which truly is A Song of Hope." Lecture and book signing. 6:30pm in the Alliance's Theater. Hors-d'oeuvres and refreshments will be served. Open to all. 1345 Bush St., SF. 414.775.7755 or http://www.afsf.com for details.

June 10, 2010. DEBORAH KUHL sings French music & standards at the First Street Cafe in Benicia, CA with amazing Aram Boyd on the trumpet E.V.I. 7pm-10pm. We'll perform French music and standards--- piano - vocals- EVI-- at the Upstairs room of the First Street Cafe... Stop by after the Farmers' Market for an enjoyable evening with an exceptional ambiance. Thank you for supporting live music. www.deborahkuhl.com

June 11, 2010. DEBORAH KUHL sings French music & standards at Marché Benicia, a special festival with French flair, also in downtown Benicia. Following me will be blue grass Rough Road Ahead. more info at http://www.mainstreetbenicia.org 11am-1 pm. Thank you for supporting live music. www.deborahkuhl.com

June 12, 2010. TOM RIGNEY & FLAMBEAU perform CAJUN-BLUES-ZYDECO at Ashkenaz. Violinist-fiddler-composer and singer Tom "Rigo" Rigney's East Bay quintet Flambeau plays traditional Cajun and zydeco two-steps and waltzes, along with low-down blues and New Orleans R&B. What sets the band apart is Rigney's fresh musical takes on Cajun and zydeco, and other styles he loves to play from rock to classical, creating a celebration of life through dance rhythms. The tight ensemble of virtuoso musicians - which also includes guitarist Danny Caron (Rigney's longtime collaborator since their Sundogs years), keyboardist Caroline Dahl, bassist Steve Parks, and drummer Brent Rampone - plays mostly original material, highlighting Rigney's arrangements. The band features tunes from the latest Flambeau CD, "Serious Fun," which boasts 15 songs, 11 of them Rigney originals. Rigney's 2008 acoustic blues release, "Back Porch Blues," with favorites such as "Drivin' That Thing" and "Swamp Beat Boogie," spent much of the summer in the top 15 of "B.B. King's Top Picks to Click" on XM/Sirius Radio's Bluesville channel, hitting the #1 spot in August. Guest artists on the album include longtime Rigney friends Norton Buffalo, Roy Rogers, and Bob Brozman. www.rigomania.com Doors at 7:30 p.m.; Cajun/Zydeco dance lesson with Diana Castillo at 8:00 p.m.; Show at 9:00 p.m. $13/$10 student

June 13, 2010. CARA BLACK. Redwood Writers Meeting 2:30-5 PM at the Flamingo Conference Resort & Spa - Cara Black will read from MURDER IN THE LATIN QUARTER, shortlisted for Best Novel 2009 by the Northern California Association of Independent Booksellers -Empire Room – 2777 Fourth Street, Santa Rosa, CA 95405 • Phone: (707) 545-8530 We ask for a small fee of $5 from members and $8 from non-members to cover costs.

June 15, 2010. SILICONFRENCH / INTERFRENCH presents CLEANTECH ENTREPRENEURS: THINK GLOBAL, THINK E.U. Join us for an evening with cleantech industry players from around the world! 2009 was a record year for cleantech in EU and particularly in France. According to the Cleantech Group's investment data, 2009 saw more fundings in France than any previous year, making it the most active European country. France offers attractive environment for cleantech and exceptional funding opportunities for R&D (Research Tax Credits). This evening is a unique opportunity to gain a broad understanding of the cleantech landscape in France : come and listen to successful US companies who will provide detailed explanations on how they took root in Europe and France. Through the analysis of those concrete case studies on their transatlantic experiences, the panel will share their critical insight on the current and future potential for research and business development activities -- and how it translates to your growth potential. SPEAKERS * Denis Descause, VP Business Development, Global Ecosystem and Partner Group, SAP * Sheeraz Haji, President, CLEANTECHGROUP * Louis Armstrong, VP, URS Corp * Sidney Goodman, VP, BETTER PLACE * Kevin Decker, VP, GENERAL ELECTRIC * Jon Bonanno, CIO of SUSTAINABLE POWER ASSETS , Chair of the Cleantech Investment Committee of the KEIREETSU FORUM * Kamel Ounadjela, Ph.D, Founder, President and Chief Operating Officer, CALISOLAR * François Laugier, Partner, RMKB * Caroline Laporte, VP West Coast, INVEST IN FRANCE NORTH AMERICA * Stéphane Barbier, Development Director, ADERLY AGENDA 6:00pm - 6:30pm Registration/Cocktail 6:30pm - 6:40pm Welcome & Introductions 6:40pm - 8:00pm Panel discussion 8:00pm - 9:00pm Q&A and Networking MORE INFORMATION & REGISTER Regular Price: $35 Partners' Network: $25 FACCSF & InterFrench Members: $20 EBC Clients and Mentors: FREE ( RSVP to Melissa) On-site Registration: add $10 to the above Tuesday June 15, 2010 at 6:00 PM Venue SAP 3420 Hillview Ave. Palo Alto, Ca info@faccsf.net for details.

June 15, 2010. CARA BLACK. San Francisco Public Library 6:30 PM Cara Black will read from MURDER IN THE LATIN QUARTER, shortlisted for Best Novel 2009 by the Northern California Association of Independent Booksellers 101 Larkin Street San Francisco. 6:30 PM.

June 15, 2010. WORLD CUP – IVORY COAST VS. PORTUGAL. 7:00am.

June 15, 2010. THE CREOLE BELLES at Ashkenaz. The locally-based Creole Belles sing and play rollicking Louisiana Cajun-Creole dance music usually heard in more remotely located dance halls of the bayous and plains of Louisiana. Fiddler-singer Delilah Lee Lewis has been playing such music for nearly three decades, including a three-year stint in Louisiana studying and playing with Canray Fontenot, Dewey Balfa, Michael Doucet, and other masters. She shares singing with accordionist Maureen Karpan, a member of Courtableu and also a veteran of time in Louisiana. Guitarist Karen Leigh is a longtime traditional roots musician. Tonight the Belles bring in their new standup bass player, Julay Brooks, a stalwart of local bluegrass circles. They are joined by special guests Myrna Cooper on rubboard and Andrew Carriere, son of the legendary Creole fiddler Bébé Carriere, on accordion, triangle, and vocals. Doors at 7:30 p.m.; Cajun/Zydeco dance lesson with Diana Castillo at 8:00 p.m.; Show at 8:30 p.m. $10. www.creolebelles.com 1317 San Pablo Ave., Berkeley. 510.525.5054 or http://www.ashkenaz.com for details.

June 17, 2010. SIMON SCHAMA’S THE POWER OF ART features VAN GOGH. KQED TV9, 9pm.

June 17, 2010. SIMON SCHAMA’S THE POWER OF ART features JACQUES-LOUIS DAVID. KQED TV9, 10pm.

June 17, 2010. FETE DE LA MUSIQUE AT ASHKENAZ, with DGIIN; ERIC JOHN KAISER Fete de la Musique! Two bands! All in French! This special night of French dance music and culture is inspired by France's annual June 21 celebration, Fete de la Musique. And like the French, the bands play music to make sure everyone parties and dances. Influenced by life's eccentricities, SonomaCounty band Dgiin plays gypsy funk with a French twist. Guitarist-vocalist Gabe Pirard was raised in France, where he began learning the classical guitar at age 9. He moved to California in 1998; when his sister, vocalist Mimi Pirard-Aquino, joined him from France a year later, they started Dgiin. While the Flamenco-Django-esque band's personnel has changed somewhat over the years, they have consistently put on memorable, high-energy shows, captivating crowds with their singular sound. They have a busy performance schedule that has recently been expanding beyond the North Bay. Dgiin's current lineup features Gabe and Mimi on vocals and guitars, bassist Chris Le Dieph, Quebecois violinist Magali Sanscartier, drummer James Foster (of Free Peoples), and percussionist Ricky Pirard-Aquino, a native of El Salvador, who has played in numerous salsa, rock, and Latin Jazz bands. www.myspace.com/dgiin Known as Portland's French troubadour, singer-guitarist Eric John Kaiser is a French documentary filmmaker who moved to Oregon to pursue music. His original songs mix traditional French pop and rock with his own sensibilities. Kaiser makes his Ashkenaz debut backed by Kevin Van Geem on drums and vocals and Anton Van Oosbree on accordion, trumpet, bass and mandolin. The trio is in the middle of its West Coast "Pardon My French" tour. Music will come from Kaiser's two CDs, "L'Odyssée" (2006) and "French Troubadour" (2009), plus the new EP "Portland Rendez-Vous." In addition to the original title tune, the EP features songs by Edith Piaf, Jacques Brel, and Joe Dassin. www.ericjohnkaiser.com Doors at 8:00 p.m.; Show at 8:30 p.m. $10 http://www.ashkenaz.com for details.

June 17-19, 2010. SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY performs POULENC’S SONATA FOR PIANO FOUR HANDS and RAVEL’S PIANO CONCERTO FOR THE LEFT HAND and more. Davies Symphony Hall. http://www.sfsymphony.org for details.

June 17-20, 2010. CATHERINE BREILLAT’S BARBE-BLEU / BLUEBEARD. Based on the dark fairytale, Bluebeard tells the story of young Marie-Catherine, child bride to an aristocratic ogre with a reputation for murdering his wives. French director Catherine Breillat (The Last Mistress, Fat Girl, Romance) brings her personal touch to this classic tale, a favorite of good little French girls since the 1950's. (2009, 80 min, digital video) Location: YBCA Screening Room, 701 Mission St., San Francisco, CA 94103. http://www.ybca.org for details. Bluebeard will be released on DVD on June 22, 2010 (Strand Releasing)

June 17-July 10, 2010. PORCHLIGHT THEATER presents DANGEROUS LIAISONS. Porchlight Theatre Company presents a smoldering and passionate parable of intrigue, power-plays, gender roles, courtly love, brazen sexuality, and aristocratic self-interest run amok that is eerily relevant to our times. Co-directors and PTC Core Members Ann Brebner and Ken Sonkin lead a distinguished cast in new production of Christopher Hampton's Les Liaisons Dangereuses, adapted from the 1782 novel by Pierre Choderlos de Laclos, from which the infamous maxim, "Revenge is a dish best served cold," reportedly derives. Preview performances are Thursday and Friday, June 17 and 18 at 7:30 p.m.; opening night is Saturday, June 19, at 7:30 p.m. and features a post-performance champagne reception. Performances will continue through July 10, Thursdays-Sundays at 7:30 p.m. (no show Sunday, July 4 or Sunday, July 11; added performances Monday, June 28 and Wednesday July 7) at the Redwood Amphitheatre at the Marin Art and Garden Center, 30 Sir Francis Drake Blvd. in Ross. [Editor Note: due to construction on Sir Francis Drake Blvd. during the summer months, theatre patrons are encouraged to allow extra time. Construction updates and suggested alternate routes can be found at www.porchlight.net. ]

June 18, 2010. ALLIANCE FRANCAISE DE SAN FRANCISCO at the De Young museum, for the BIRTH OF IMPRESSIONISM. 250 tickets only! The Impressionist galleries of the Orsay Museum in Paris have closed for renovation, and the collection is at the de Young museum in San Francisco. Two sequential exhibits will be offered: "Birth of Impressionism" (May 22 to September 5) followed by "Post-Impressionist Masterpieces" (September 25 to January 18). San Francisco is the only venue in North America to host the collection, and the only venue in the world to host both exhibits. The Alliance Française of San Francisco is partnering with the de Young to offer special Friday evening "Soirées" at the museum during the exhibits. The first will be on June 18th during the "Birth of Impressionism" exhibit. There will be a reception, followed by a program, "Fête de la Musique," celebrating the music of this important era, and timed-entry tickets to see this fabulous collection. You may choose to see the exhibit at 5 PM, and then attend the reception and program, finishing at 7:30 PM, or you may choose to start with the reception at 6 PM, and then attend the program and finally view the exhibit. Once you have seen the exhibit, there is no re-entry. The museum closes at 9 PM that evening. We only have 250 tickets for this special event, which will sell out very quickly. So please do not delay. Either call the Alliance at 415-775-7755 to secure your reservation or visit our website where you can purchase the tickets directly. Tickets are $75 each. The tickets will be mailed to you. Please remember to indicate whether you would like the 5 PM viewing or the 7:30 PM viewing. Our other partner for this event is the French American Cultural Society, which is organizing live French music during the soirées. It will be a wonderful evening for San Francisco Bay Area's French community, including Francophiles and their friends.

June 18, 2010. CONVERSATION WITH THE ALLIANCE FRANCAISE DE BERKELEY. Please bring a dish and/or a beverage to share. 6:30pm. At the Alliance, 2004 Woolsey St., Berkeley. 510.548.7481 or http://www.afberkeley.org or info@afberkeley.org for details.

June 18, 2010. SIERRA NEVADA WORLD MUSIC FESTIVAL, including BAABA MAL and others! Mendocino County Fairgrounds, Boonville. 3 day camping pass, $145; day pass, $55-$65. http://snwmf.com for details.

June 18-27, 2010. SACRAMENTO FRENCH FILM FESTIVAL features 9 new French films in their Sacramento premieres, including 5 comedies! - The 9th SFFF will open with *IN THE BEGINNING (A l'origine)*, by Xavier Giannoli, a thrilling drama based on the true story of a small crook who built a piece of highway leading nowhere… - *PLEASE, PLEASE ME! *(*Fais moi plaisir !*), a charming, happy comedy by Emmanuel Mouret (Shall we Kiss?). - *LOUISE MICHEL*, a hilarious anarchist comedy by Benoît Delépine & Gustave de Kervern, starring Yolande Moreau (acclaimed at last year’s SFFF in Séraphine). - *SKIRT DAY * (*La Journée de la jupe*), by Jean-Paul Lilienfeld, starring Isabelle Adjani who received her fifth César for Best Actress for her role in this controversial social drama about a teacher who holds her class hostage after discovering a gun in one of her student's backpack. *2nd WEEKEND, JUNE 26-27* - The historical drama *ARMY OF CRIME* (*L'Armée du crime*) by Robert Guédiguian retraces the true story of the Manouchian resistance group in occupied France during WWII. - *FRENCH KISSERS* *(Les Beaux Gosses)*, is the first feature by comic book artist Riad Sattouf, an hysterical John Hughes-style comedy that will enthrall anyone who has ever been a teenager. - *RAPT *by Lucas Belvaux is a social-thriller about the downfall of a powerful businessman portrayed by Yvan Attal. - *HEARTBREAKER (L'Arnacoeur)* by Pascal Chaumeil is a sophisticated and witty comedy full of adventure, starring Vanessa Paradis and Romain Duris. - The pride of French intelligence returns to Sacramento! The Festival will close in style on June 27th with *OSS 117, LOST IN RIO (OSS 117, Rio ne répond plus)*, the sequel to the uproarious spy-spoof comedy that opened the 2008 SFFF. Do not miss this one! <http://www.sacramentofrenchfilmfestival.org/program.htm>*

June 20, 2010. EUROPEAN EXPATS GATHERING. Socialize with fellow Europeans in a stylish lounge bar. If you are from Europe and want to make interesting new friends, have substantial conversations, compare notes on life in America, practice your language skills or just have fun, come join us! Drop in when you can and stay for as long as you want. You'll discover a friendly group. Newcomers are very welcome. Come on your own or with a friend. Find out the details and sign up for this San Francisco event at http://www.bafoe.org. BAY AREA FRIENDS OF EUROPE "Where Europeans and Europhiles can meet and make friends"

June 24, 2010. LES AMI(E)S FRANCOPHONES DE SAN FRANCISCO! MEET-UP. 7:00 PM, Hotel Rex 562 Sutter St San Francisco, CA 94102 Salut Folks! Come join us in our old haunt The Hotel Rex bar. For those of you who have not joined us before, this is a mellower meetup, but still plenty of people show up. Some people take seats in small groups while other mingle in the crowd. Hope you can make it! Learn more here: http://www.meetup.com/francophonesdeSF/calendar/13710242/

June 25, 2010. ALLIANCE FRANÇAISE DE BERKELEY celebrates the FETE DE LA MUSIQUE. Everyone is welcome. Be a musician (your own gig): Sing. Play an instrument. Or be part of the audience… or both. Free. Please RSVP. Bring a dish and/or a beverage to share. 6:30pm. At the Alliance, 2004 Woolsey St., Berkeley. 510.548.7481 or http://www.afberkeley.org or info@afberkeley.org for details.

June 26, 2010. SYMPHONY OF KORAS with OUSSEYNOU KOUYATE performing at Ashkenaz, 1317 San Pablo Ave., Berkeley. 510.525.5054 or http://www.ashkenaz.com for details.

June 26-July 10, 2009. LANDSCAPE PAINTING IN SOUTHERN WESTERN FRANCE. Paint for two weeks in the beautiful Languedoc region of southwestern France. We will be based in Limoux where we will stay at Montfaucon, a beautiful restored maison d'maitre on the river Aude. Includes 14 nights' lodging (DO), all breakfasts, 12 dinners with wine, instruction, transportation to painting sites and round trip transport fromToulouse Airport. Does not include airfare. Enrollment limited to 10. Fee: $4,100 (DO). $3,950 with early deposit of $500 by October 15th, 2009, Contact: Julie Houck 808 873-0597 or email at Julie@juliehouck.com. Download brochure: http://www.juliehouck.com/montfaucon2009.pdf For more information about the workshop go tohttp://www.juliehouck.com To view a slide show of previous trips go to:http://www.juliehouck.com/workshops07france_slideshow09.htm.

June 30-July 25, 2010. DANGEROUS LIAISONS… WITH VAMPIRES. Santa Rosa Junior College Summer Repertory Theater. DANGEROUS LIAISONS with VAMPIRES is an unforgettable tale of lies, mistrust and manipulation. Based on the 1782 French novel by Choderlos de Luclos, this new adaptation imagines the Vicomte de Valmont and the Marquise de Mertueil as immortals that play their vicious game over centuries. Filled with seduction, treachery and passion, DANGEROUS LIAISONS with VAMPIRES leaves the audience hungering for more. (Mature themes) http://www.summerrep.com/dangerous.html for details.

OSS 117: LOST IN RIO. France's all-in-one answer to James Bond, Derek Flint and Austin Powers returns, in this hilarious follow-up to the hit French comedy OSS 117: Cairo Nest of Spies. Jean Dujardin stars again as suave secret agent Hubert Boniesseur de Bath, a.k.a. OSS 117, who is dispatched to Brazil in 1967 to retrieve compromising microfilm from a Nazi blackmailer (Rüdiger Vogler). Teamed with a beautiful Mossad colonel (Louise Monot) who intends to deliver the Nazi to Israeli justice, OSS 117 distinguishes himself once again as a skilled fighter, a smooth dancer and an imbecilic chauvinist. From the sunny beaches of Rio, through the lush Amazonian forests, to a Hitchcockian climax atop Corcovado's Christ statue, this irreverent and outrageous spoof of 60's spy movies boasts a cool "retro" look reminiscent of the era's classic wide screen, color adventures.
Smith-Rafael, San Rafael; Lumiere, SF; Shattuck, Berkeley.

ALSO NOTE: ALLIANCE FRANÇAISE DE SAN FRANCISCO CINEMATHEQUE. Second & Fourth Wednesdays of the month, 7pm. Enjoy the latest releases from France sur le grand ecran with AFSF ciné-philes and discussion en français. Straight from the AFSF Médiathèque. Visit http://www.afsf.com for updates on featured films. Suggested donation of $5.

Through June 13, 2010. SINGING THE NET at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts. YBCA presents Singing the Net, a new video installation project by French artists Patrick Bernier and Olive Martin. Singing the Net centers on ideas of frontiers, movement and identity using the Internet's unique territories, histories and identities as a source of metaphors for these subjects. The film, New Kahnawake, is an experimental documentary that explores the 7 Sultans Casino, one of the 300 online casinos hosted by servers located in Kahnawake, a small Native American Indian reserve south of Montreal. Location: YBCA, 701 Mission Street (at 3rd), San Francisco. Singing the Net is part of the YBCA Exhibition series PAUSE: Practice and Exchange. This unique project is a collaboration between YBCA, Artnow and the Kadist Art Foundation. Addition support provided by FACE, French American Cultural Exchange, and the French American Cultural Society.

Through June 20, 2010. GLOBAL LIVES. Multimedia Exhibition Global Lives at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, UC Berkeley. YBCA presents the world premiere of the Global Lives Project, an innovative video installation featuring documentaries that capture 24 hours in the lives of ten people from around the world who represent the diversity of the global population. Working with acclaimed filmmakers, artists and designers, Global Lives assembles the realities of everyday life from Lebanon, Serbia, China, India, Japan, Malawi, Indonesia, Brazil, Kazakhstan and San Francisco into an installation by architectural and design visionaries of Sand Studios and FOURM design+build+educate. Swiss cinematographer Marco Lüthy is responsible for the Kazakhstan segment of the exhibition. YBCA will mark the opening of this innovative exhibition with one of their renowned Big Idea parties, free of charge. Global Lives Project February 26 - June 20 Yerba Buena Center for the Arts 701 Mission Street (at 3rd) San Francisco http://www.ybca.org/ Global Lives Project Opening Night Celebration Friday, February 26, 7:30-11:30 p.m. YBCA Room for Big Ideas, Grand Lobby & Forum FREE If the exhibition sparks your interest to learn more, dive deeper into the philosophy, aesthetics, and politics of the Global Lives Project the following Saturday with a series of panel discussions on the project at UC Berkeley. Marco Lüthy will take part in the forum. Global Lives Project Forum at UC-Berkeley February 27, 9 a.m. --5:30 p.m. University of California, Berkeley Drop in anytime, registration 8 a.m.-12 p.m. Geballe and Seminar Rooms in the Doreen B. Townsend Center for the Humanities 220 Stephens Hall Gifford Anthropology Seminar Room (2nd Floor, Kroeber Hall) FREE Contact nick@ybca.org for directions and further information Sponsored by the Consulate General of Switzerland in San Francisco.

Through July 23, 2010. STRAIGHT TO THE BONE at the CREATIVE GROWTH ART CENTER features REGIS-R. Creative Growth Art Center announces its upcoming exhibition Straight to the Bone artwork made during a Creative Growth studio workshop with Paris-based visiting artist Régis-R. Exhibition and event, Friday, June 4, 2010 from 5:00-8:00pm. Gallery event is free and open to the public. Also open Saturday, June 5, 11am to 4pm. On view from June 4 through July 23, 2010. Location: Creative Growth Art Center Gallery, 355 24th St., Oakland, CA 94612, (near 19th St. BART)

Through June 30, 2010. TAKE YOUR TIME: PHOTOGRAPHY BY JULIETTE TINNUS at 456 Montgomery. Bay Area Swiss photographer and stylist Juliette Tinnus continues her show at 456 Montgomery street through next month. Juliette fashions the strange, beautiful worlds she photographs by hand from physical objects--the only work done on the computer is to eliminate the tiny strings that keep her constructions in place. Don't miss the opportunity to see these quirky, ineffably modern still lifes in person! Take Your Time: Juliette Tinnus Photography Exhibition 456 Montgomery Street, Lobby San Francisco, CA Through June To view the exhibition, contact michael.sapin@eda.admin.ch to make a reservation.

Through September 6, 2010! BIRTH OF IMPRESSIONISM: MASTERPIECES FROM THE MUSEE D’ORSAY. 100 paintings. Among paintings by naturalist artists such as Bougereau and Courbet, there is the American expatriate James McNeil Whistler's "Arrangement in Gray and Black," a.k.a. "Whistler’s Mother." There are early work by Manet, Monet, Renoir and Sisley, and a selection of Degas’ paintings that depict images of the ballet and the racetrack. De Young Museum, Golden Gate Park. http://www.famsf.org/deyoung/

Through September 6, 2010. IMPRESSIONIST PARIS: CITY OF LIGHT. Palace of the Legion of Honor, Lincoln Park, 34th & Clement, SF. 415.750.3600 or http://www.famsf.org for details.

September 25, 2010-January 18, 2011. VAN GOGH, GAUGUIN, CÉZANNE AND BEYOND: POST-IMPRESSIONIST MASTERPIECES FROM THE MUSEE D’ORSAY. This second of two exhibitions presents some of the most famous late Impressionist paintings including those by Monet and Renoir, followed by the more individualistic styles of the early modern masters including Cèzanne, Gauguin, Lautrec and van Gogh, plus works by Pointillists Seurat and Signac. De Young Museum, Golden Gate Park. http://www.famsf.org/deyoung/

On-going. A NEW 19TH CENTURY : THE MONDAVI FAMILY GALLERY REINSTALLED. Reconfigured 19th century European and American collections. Cantor Arts Center at Stanford University. Lomita Drive and Museum Way, Stanford University, Palo Alto. 650.723.4177 or http://museum.stanford.edu for details.

On-going. MODERN EUROPEAN MASTERS, including MATISSE, PICASSO, CHAGALL and more. Meyerovich Gallery, 251 Post, SF. 415.421.7171 or http://meyerovich.com for details.

On-going. MATISSE AND BEYOND: THE PAINTING AND SCULPTURE COLLECTION. SF Museum of Modern Art. Magnificent works of painting and sculpture culled from SFMOMA's own collections provide a quick tour of modern art from Fauvism to Minimalism. Daily. Exhibition tells the story of modern and contemporary art including landmark works by MATISSE, BOURGEOIS and others. San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, 151 Third St., San Francisco. 415.357.4000 or www.sfmoma.org

DOMINIQUE AMENDOLA. New art website of note (fun to browse): Dominique Amendola is a French born painter who focuses primarily on landscapes and figures using gorgeously vibrant colors to create scenes of amazing clarity. Her art is figurative yet remains contemporary and spur of the moment. Her paintings depict ordinary day-to-day life of people in snapshots, either in nature or life in a bustling city. http://dominiqueamendola.com

ARTS OF FASHION. Yearly competition brings guest designers from PARIS and BRUXELLES to work with and select prizes for United States fashion students. The grand prizes offered to the US fashion students are internships in high profile fashion design houses as Castelbajac or Anne Valerie Hash or the school of the Chambre syndicale in Paris... Or Brussels for La Cambre or Antwerp for Veronique Branquinho or Vienna for Wendy&Jim... Contact: Nathalie Doucet, President Arts of Fashion Foundation, 635 Tennessee Street Suite # 402, San Francisco CA 94107. Tel 415 252 0734 http://www.af-competition.com or http://www.myspace.com/artsoffashion

FLORENCE DE BRETAGNE. Florence de Bretagne is a French painter and photographer. Her work is full of joy and very colorful. It has always something to do with new life : imaginary plants that are flourishing, blossoms, seeds. It seems that nature is new and beautiful like new-born babies. She took abstract pictures of fruits and vegetables (a very poetic book, "Semence", is still available), she made paintings on trees and imaginary plants, and many others. You can see her work either in the SFMOMA gallery at Fort Mason, or in her atelier (756 Garland Drive in Palo Alto), or else on her website : http://www.florencedebretagne.com

June 17-27, 2010. LANDSCAPE PAINTING IN SOUTHWESTERN FRANCE. Love Art? Love France? Experience the Best of Both! Consider attending a ten day painting class in southwestern France. Our daily painting excursions will take you to the unspoiled villages, market towns and rolling farmland of the Dordogne and Lot Valleys. We'll visit bastide towns such as Saint Cirq la Popie, colorful market towns such as Sarlat, and the famous pilgrimage site of Rocamador. We'll have an opportunity to see where painting began with a visit to the 15,000 year old cave paintings of Pech Merle.Paint for ten weeks in the beautiful Languedoc region of southwestern France. We will be based at Le Vieux Couvent, a beautiful restored 17th century convent located in the tiny hamlet of Fraysinette. Fee $3,450 (SO) with private bath and $3,250 (SO) with shared bath, includes 10 nights' lodging, all breakfasts, 4 course dinners with aperitif andwine, instruction, transportation to painting sites, 24 hour use of the painting studio and round trip transport from Toulouse Airport (scheduled times). Does not include airfare. Enrollment limited to 10 painters. All levels/media welcome. Contact: Julie Houck 808 873-0597 or email at Julie@juliehouck.com. For more information Julie go to her website, http://www.juliehouck.com To read more about the workshop at Le Vieux Couvent go to the workshop page of the website. Download a Brochure!

June 19-July 3, 2010. CLASSES AT LATITUDE CULTURAL CENTER, LOT VALLEY. 4 week-long workshops, all in the English language, will be offered at the Latitude Cultural Center in the never-industrialized, unspoiled Lot Valley at La Toulzanie, a riverside hamlet of fewer than 20 people which has been continuously inhabited at least since Neolithic times. (Latitude was founded in 1998 by E. Barbara Phillips, now professor emerita at San Francisco University; she is its current director, and the non-profit association is run by a board of people, all of whom are at least part-time residents of the Department of the Lot. Latitude is about 20 minutes from the cave paintings of Pech-Merle and 40 minutes from Cahors, the capital city of Quercy.) Two workshops will be offered from June 19-26:PAINTING THE COLORS OF SOUTHWEST FRANCE with Vermont watercolorist Rob O'Brien and A GREAT LEAP BACKWARD: An exploration into the psyche of the cave and the cave in the psyche with Bay Area psychologist Adrienne Amundsen; her workshop will emphasize the nature of creativity, and is eligible for continuing education credits (see website for details). June 26-July 3: 2 workshops: A TASTE OF TEXTILES with Maureen ("Mo") Newman and A TASTE OF SOUTHWEST FRANCE with E. Barbara Phillips. Details on courses, pricing, etc. at http://www.latitude.org

June 28-July 5, 2010. MIXED MEDIA PAINTING CLASS IN CARCASSONNE. Watercolor, Fluid Acrylic and Collage Techniques with CAROL DUCHAMP. A stunningly restored medieval town, Carcassonne¹s La Cité is a fairy tale enclave of turrets bathed in breathtaking light. Our beautiful and luxurious stone house mid-way between La Cité and Bastide St. Louis is a 15-minute walk from the restored castle (world heritage site) and a 15-minute walk from the famed Canal du Midi waterway. A walking path along the Aude River with exquisite views of La Cité is a 1-block meander from our French home away from home. Painting practice will take place in our private landscaped garden and en plein air at selected sites. carol@arttreks.com Renew your art spirit with color and wet-into-wet water media techniques that offer the amateur and professional painter the broadest expressive range. Demonstrations and discussion will include wetting the paper or canvas, color saturation, brushwork, compositional energy, atmospheric effect, edge tinting, textual elegance and the use of watercolor crayon, acrylic inks and polymer mediums for collage. Whether your work moves in a realistic or abstract direction, innovative teaching methods will build self-confidence and enhance your skill. Individual instruction as time permits. This class is suitable for all levels of skill from beginner to professional. www.arttreks.com Class fee of $650 (or 530 euros) includes six half-day art classes, individual instruction, a mid-trip sharing of our paintings in progress and farewell celebration of our work. Optional in-house accommodations $720 1/2 share twin (530 euros) $1400 single (1030 euros). To enroll in the art workshop, please mail your class deposit check of $250 (payable to Art Trek) to Carol Duchamp, Art Trek, P.O. Box 1103, Bolinas, CA 94924. You will receive a confirmation letter, suggested art materials list, information on meeting with the group and other pre-departure details. Balance of class fee is due 60-days prior to departure.

July 10-17, 2010. PAINTING THE PROVENÇAL LANDSCAPE: LAVENDER SEASON IN PROVENCE. Paint the beautiful Luberon countryside while the Provence lavender fields are in bloom.We will be based at the charming Le Mas des Carissinshttp://www.masdescarassins.com/anglais.phpin St. Remy de Provence, where Van Goghpainted his famous "Starry Night." Our daily painting excursions will take us to quintessential Provence to paint Sault's lavender fields, Luberon hill towns and vineyards. To download a brochure: http://www.juliehouck.com/provence_web.pdf. Enrollment limited to 12. Fee: $2,900 (DO) with early deposit of $500 by December 31, 2009. $2,995 if deposit received after December 31, 2009. Single supplement: $500. Does not include airfare. Contact Julie Houck 808 873-0597 or email atJulie@juliehouck.com

September 18-25, 2010. PROVENCE PAINTING CLASS IN HISTORIC UZES, FRANCE. Isn’t Fall a fabulous time for a trip to Provence? Perfect your work of art in Uzes while studying under a French artist of international acclaim, Christian Vey. As one of the most beautiful towns of its size in France, Uzes (near Avignon ) is the perfect place to forget about time, relax, and lose yourself in the maze of little streets full of cafés, restaurants and historic sites, or to walk in the shady river valley to inspect the remains of the Roman aqueduct which once supplied it . From pottery farms (in Saint-Quentin-La-Poterie) to a donkey festival in September, you’ll have an unforgettable experience. B&B: Contact us for a wide selection of B&B’s to enjoy such as www.bizedelatour.com Christian Vey’s concept: Christian will focus on the importance of defining a theme of work and one-on-one instructions to understand proportionality, shading and light, perspectives and colors. Daily activities include: demos by Christian, personalized instruction, a leisurely break for lunch and time to explore the surrounding countryside. All paints and material supplies will be included. Limited to 8-10 attendees Workshop Fee: 550 euros (approx. $750) Deposit by May 1st Contact Ginny Blackwell at 585 905-0849 or info@frenchpropertyshares.com

TUTORING FOR MATH & SCIENCE – IN FRENCH! I graduated from La Perouse in 2007 with a Scientific Baccalaureat. I'm a Junior student in SRJC in organic chemistry, and have completed a summer internship in the Buck Institute. I give math, chemistry and physics tutoring for every level. Have 3 years of experience, good connections with students and satisfied results. Can meet at the students home or at your convenience. For more information, please feel free to contact me at awad.pierre@gmail.com or tel 415 408 1041.

LEARN FRENCH AT HOME WITH YOUR FRENCH TEACHER LIVE ON YOUR COMPUTER SCREEN! Skype is FREE and VERY easy to install and use. Learn, speak and practice French face to face with your teacher just like in a classroom. It's easy and very effective for students of any level, even complete beginners! The rates are: $30 for one single 30 minute lesson ($30) $25 x 5 for five 30 minute lessons paid in advance ($125) $20 x 10 for ten 30 minute lessons paid in advance ($200) $15 x 20 for twenty 30 minute lessons paid in advance ($300) For more information, please contact Dominiquebremond@aol.com

CERCLE DU LIVRE / BOOK CLUB at THE FRENCH CLASS. Free for The French Class members. Meeting once a month. A minimum of 3 people is necessary to hold the Book Club. You need to call in advance: (415) 362-3666 to sign up and let us know that you will be attending. The French Class, 500 Sutter Street, Ste. 310, SF, CA. 94102 (415) 362-3666 info@frenchclass.com or www.frenchclass.com for details.

LANGUAGE ATELIERS AT THE ALLIANCE FRANCAISE DE SAN FRANCISCO. One day workshops to energize your language-learning: French for Travelers; Business French; Phonetics and French Pronunciation. Contact Jeremiah Cruz [mailto:jcruz@afsf.com] for more information. 415.775.7755, ext 19.

FRENCH LANGUAGE WORKSHOPS OFFERED BY ELYCEE. Sign up for our most popular French Language Workshops. All our French teachers are native speakers, certified to teach French by the Ministere de l'Education nationale (French Ministry of Education), and our French Language Workshops are total immersion. A uniquely French environment. We have the world's first fully interactive virtual classroom, with full audio/video and a range of collaborative (shared) tools and applications. You can sign in from wherever you are to join teachers, friends and colleagues online. For information on our yearly academic programs for students- starting September 15th- please Christine Frin me directly. Christine Frin www.elycee.com France : Cell : 06 85 63 35 95 USA Cell : 1 415 328 5357 Fax : 1 415 480 2096

FRENCH TEACHER WORKSHOPS AT eLYCEE. The reactions of participants to our French teacher summer course were enthusiastic. So we created a continuing training program, once a month on Saturdays. If you are interested, please contact: Christine.frin@elycee.com

ALLIANCE FRANÇAISE DE SAN FRANCISCO. FRENCH FOR TRAVELERS. * New * A class designed specifically to teach those traveling to France basic French and to explain important French customs and behaviors. Through vocabulary, dialogues, visual aids, games and authentic materials (maps, menus, etc), you will learn phrases for specific situations (airport, hotel, bank, train station, etc). This class also serves as a useful review for intermediate and advanced learners. Accelerated Grammar for Beginners Cover two Beginner levels in only 8 weeks! Semi-private or private classes available. Call 415.775.7755 or email [mailto:jcruz@afsf.com].

eLYCEE is pleased to announce the opening of its new Minischool, with weekly French classes for kids aged 9 and 10. Based on our popular Maintien de la Langue classes for French-speaking students in the USA, our Minischool gives younger kids access to our unique virtual classroom. Our native French teachers encourage production and creativity, bringing the language and the culture to life in 90-minute total immersion sessions. In our relaxed learning environment, students develop their language skills and confidence, they work together, and - best of all - they love it. It's a brand new way to learn French for Life. For more information, visit www.elycee.com

eLYCEE also offers a range of online courses to choose from, including, for Middle School & High School students: private tutorials, Summer Camp, AP classes; for College students: private tutorials, workshops, French Club, AP classes, online OuLiPo workshops; for Adults: private tutorials, workshops, French Club, online OuLiPo workshops; and OuLiPo’s online ‘Ateliers d’Ecriture’ are available online for the first time ever; ONLY with eLycée. Visit our website: http://www.elycee.com/ If you would like to know more about this innovative program of after school classes, please contact Julian Hirst at julian.hirst@elycee.com, or +1 877 624 5330.

POUR TOUS LES PETITS: A CLASS FOR KIDS at the Alliance Française de Santa Rosa. With native speaker EVELYNE WHITMAN. To register, contact the director at herve@afsantarosa.org or call 707.543.8151. Saturdays, 11am-12pm.

FRENCH WINE CLASSES. The French Wine Society is offering French wine classes in San Francisco. Each class will be an in-depth lecture of a particular region including a tasting of six carefully selected fine wines to illustrate the regions character. These classes should not be missed. They represent a unique opportunity to increase your knowledge and enjoyment of French wine. Eric Lecours, Regional Director of the French Wine Society Bay Area, will be instructing the classes. He is a Certified Wine Educator and holds a Diploma in Wine & Spirits from the WSET. He is also one of only 20 Americans to be certified by the region of Bordeaux as an official instructor, having been sponsored by the Bordeaux Wine Council to attend a weeklong educational program in Bordeaux last year. He continues his studies and is working toward his Masters of Wine, the most respected qualification in the Wine Industry. For more information and registration: http://www.frenchwinesociety.org

COOKING CLASSES IN FRANCE OFFERED BY FORMER BAY AREA RESIDENT Philippe Gion. http://www.ArtandCookingClassesinFrance.com Philippe Gion was a resident of San Francisco from 1986 to 2001, then time shared between the US and Provence. Owner & chef of the restaurant "Café Landais" (1986-1990) then, manager of the restaurant of the "Alliance Fançaise,” he was also Executive Chef at Stanford University ("East House Residency", 1997- 2000). He was a member of the Board of Director at the "Lycée Français Lapérouse" (1988-1991) and creator of the first French Ciné-Club in San Francisco ("Alliance Française Ciné-Club" with the partnership of the Lycée Français). In 1996, Philippe Gion founded "Art and Cooking Classes in France" dedicated to bringing to our Anglo-Saxons friends and gourmets the best of the joie de vivre in France and, most of all, an attractive approach of the traditional French gastronomy in Provence.

FRENCH AT CASTRO VALLEY ADULT SCHOOL. Castro Valley Adult School is offering Beginning and Intermediate French on Monday evenings. Beginners 6:30 pm-8:30 pm; Intermediates 5:30 pm-7:30 pm. Come and practice French in a low-key, fun atmosphere. Helpful for travelers looking for survival French. Heavy emphasis on cultural topics. The intermediate class offers good practice for those with some experience in French. Additional out-of-class activities such as dinner outings, wine tastings, picnics, etc. will also be offered. Reasonable course fees. Call Castro Valley Adult School for more details: 510.886.1000.

FRENCH FOR FUN. French For Fun, a well-known language and cultural center in the East Bay, has long been a meeting ground for Francophone and Francophile parents. Recently relocated to a newer, larger facility, we’d like to invite you to come and check us out! We have a brand new Baby Circle for one-year-olds on Mondays and Wednesdays from 10:00 – 10:30 and an ongoing Moms n’Tots program for toddlers on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10:00 – 10:30. You don’t need an appointment. The first lesson is always free. Drop in and while you’re here feel free to browse our videothèque and library of French children’s books. We’d love to meet you! Madame@FrenchForFun.com or www.FrenchForFun.com

PARIS VERSION A LA FRANCAISE. Week-long French Culture and Language Seminar in Paris, various dates available. Enjoy speaking French in unknown and new Parisian surroundings : French classes in the morning, cultural and gourmet workshops or strolls through the real Paris in the afternoon. Paris Version à la Française ; http://www.parisvf.com for more details.

FRENCH CLASSES FOR LITTLE ONES IN SAN FRANCISCO. Contact: Jean et Marie store & Maisonette Playroom : Coordonnées: 510.759.1224 - ingrid@maisonettesf.com. Jean et Marie is proud to announce to offer its French immersion program for kids in its playroom, Maisonette. Language study is best started when very young, and that's why we decided to offer this opportunity to little ones as young as 2. Activities for each hour-and-a-half class include games, singing and dancing, puppets, drawing, and storytelling, all in French. For more information, come by the store, at 100 Clement Street, see: www.maisonettesf.com or call 510.759.1224.

THE INTERNATIONAL FRENCH CLUB. Going to France soon or you want to speak French like a French person? Join the International French Club. Savoir faire. Besides text and exercise books, all classes include the use of material that will expose you to the wide variety of the French-speaking world; among others, French news, French movies, novels, songs and cartoons. You will also be invited to participate in team work, games and role-plays that will express what you have learned. Free evaluation. Before signing up for a class, we will schedule a meeting to evaluate your writing and oral level, and to listen to your objectives in order to place you in the appropriate class and level. Contact Nathalie today at: 415.756.2531 info@ifrenchclub.com Beginner Classes :: Intermediate Classes :: Advanced Classes

FRENCH LANGUAGE INSTITUTE. Learn French at your own pace. French for children, adults and corporate in private or small classes. French Language Institut offers flexibility, fun, customized programs, library, newest educative material, CNED, craft sessions, trip to France and much more! Visit us @ http://www.FL-Institut.com or write to frenchteachers@siliconfrench.com.

LANGUAGES INSTITUTE INC. Languages Institute Inc. is comprised of a team of 8 experienced teachers. All our teachers are native French speakers, passionate about the language and earned a Bachelor or Master's degree. They have much experience to make your learning fun, pleasant and efficient! 1100 East Hamilton Avenue, #3, Campbell, CA. 408.377.1113 or 408.833.9620 or Info@Frenchin.Org or http://www.frenchin.org

July 10, 2010. DOCENT LECTURE: DEGAS, THE RELUCTANT IMPRESSIONIST. 2:15pm. De Young Museum, San Francisco. 415.750.3600 or http://www.famsf.org for details.

July 10, 2010. DISCOVER WINE & SPIRITS Discover Wine & Spirits is about to start offering the French Wine Scholar study & certification program in both San Francisco and Napa! Start dates: - San Francisco: Saturday May 15th - Napa: Saturday July 10th The French Wine Scholar program is geared for members of the wine trade and serious wine hobbyists. It is designed to test for proficiency in the wines and wine regions of France. It is endorsed by the National French Wine Office and by U.S. Importers and Wholesalers of French Wine as well. Intermediate to advanced students of wine who follow this in-depth curriculum and pass the exam will earn the French Wine Scholar (FWS) post-nominal. The French Wine Scholar curriculum is comprised of eight 2 hour classes: Alsace, Beaujolais, Bordeaux, Burgundy, Champagne, Loire, Rhône, Southern France. Schedule: On consecutive Saturdays from 9:30 am. to 4:30 p.m. with an hour lunch break. Day 1: Alsace &amp; Bordeaux Day 2: Beaujolais &amp; Burgundy Day 3: Champagne &amp; Loire Valley Day 4: Southern France &amp; Rhône Valley Day 5: French Wine Scholar Exam Cost: $695, including classes, wines, 250-page French Wine Scholar study manual and exam registration. (please ask about our group and industry discounts) The French Wine Scholar program will be taught by a French Wine Scholar (FWS) and WSET Instructor. Please take a look at Discover Wine &amp; Spirits’ list of instructors. For more information and registration, please visit: http://www.discoverwineandspirits.com/french_wine_scholar_course.html

July 10-17, 2010. PAINTING THE PROVENÇAL LANDSCAPE: LAVENDER SEASON IN PROVENCE. Paint the beautiful Luberon countryside while the Provence lavender fields are in bloom. We will be based at the charming Le Mas des Carissins http://www.masdescarassins.com/anglais.php in St. Remy de Provence, where Van Gogh painted his famous "Starry Night." Our daily painting excursions will take us to quintessential Provence to paint Sault's lavender fields, Luberon hill towns and vineyards. To download a brochure: http://www.juliehouck.com/provence_web.pdf. Enrollment limited to 12. Fee: $2,900 (DO) with early deposit of $500 by December 31, 2009. $2,995 if deposit received after December 31, 2009. Single supplement: $500. Does not include airfare. Contact Julie Houck 808 873-0597 or email at Julie@juliehouck.com

July 11, 2010. GRANDE FETE DE LA BASTILLE de L’ALLIANCE FRANÇAISE DE SANTA ROSA. Pique-nique! Bring your favorite food to share. Don’t forget your own utensils and a set of boules, if you have them. Of course we will also have la Grande Tombola (raffle) du 14 juillet, plus live music with XAVIER DE LA PRADE! Free event. 4pm to sunset. Mark West Stables, 5241 St. Helena Road, Santa Rosa, Sonoma County. 707.543.8151 or http://www.afsantarosa.org or info@santarosa.org for details.

July 11 & 12, 2010. GIPSY KINGS, a French music group from Arles & Montpelier with gitane roots, performs at the Masonic Center, San Francisco on July 11 and at the Uptown Theatre, Napa, on July 12. http://www.gipsykings.com for details.

July 15, 2010. BASTILLE DAY WITH THE SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS. The Alliance Française of San Francisco (AFSF) is working in partnership with San Francisco Giants in promoting the game between the San Francisco Giants and the New York Mets on Thursday, July 15, 2010. The event is titled the Bastille Day game Honoring French- American Heritage. It is also under the auspices of the Consul General of France (Sous le Haut Patronage de Consul Général de France). The ticket sales telephone number and e-mail address is on the flyer (located at http://www.afsf.com/) and interested parties should go directly to the San Francisco Giants Sales Staff, 415.972.2298 or http://www.sfgiants.com/specialevents People wishing to sit together as a group must make their reservations at the same time. There are special benefits for a group of 25 or more. The pre-game “tailgate party” in Parking Lot D is sponsored by the San Francisco Giants, admission is free and you will receive a separate ticket (admission is private for our group) to gain entry with your regular seat ticket. The food and beverages will be French cuisine such as Crepes, Gaufres, Saucisses, etc. (to be determined closer to the event). Tail gate party starts at 4:45 – 7:00 and game starts at 7:15.

July 15 & 17 & August 5, 2010. DON GIOVANNI by MOZART, based on the MOLIERE play. SAN FRANCISCO OPERA GRAND CINEMA SERIES. California Film Institute joins San Francisco Opera in presenting this inaugural cinema series, recorded in high-definition at San Francisco's historic War Memorial Opera House. One of the world's leading opera companies, San Francisco Opera is a destination for the greatest international singers, conductors, stage directors and designers. These beautifully filmed versions offer everyone the "best seat in the house" for these dynamic and innovative theatrical productions. The Rafael's high-definition presentations are scheduled for Thursday evenings and Saturday mornings in July, with "encore" shows in August. Please note that regular matinee prices do not apply for the Saturday morning shows. www.cafilm.org for details.

July 16, 2010. BASTILLE CELEBRATION as part of SOIREES DE L’ALLIANCE FRANÇAISE, De Young Museum. 6pm-8:45pm. 415.750.3600 or http://www.famsf.org for details.

July 17, 2010. I SAVE BABYLON CONCERT. North African Musicians to Unite for "I Save Babylon" Benefit Concert, Starring Algerian Music Icon KHALED. Souk77 Productions and the Levantine Cultural Center will host a benefit concert featuring the Legendary King of Rai Khaled. Joining Khaled will be Tunisia's famed singer songwriter MC Rai, and Algeria's DJ Pheeko Dubfunk Trio. "I Save Babylon" is the first of an ongoing annual concert event whose mission is to raise money to provide instruments to community outreach and youth centers for the children of Iraq. Location: Warfield Theatre, 982 Market Street, San Francisco.

July 18, 2010. DOCENT LECTURE: BIRTH OF IMPRESSIONISM. De Young Museum, 1pm. 415.750.3600 or http://www.famsf.org for details.

July 18, 2010. WATCHA CLANN WITH CHARMING HOSTESS offer the FINALE: 25TH JEWISH MUSIC FESTIVAL. Nomadic genre bending music fronted by the charismatic Sistah K, with Berber, Algerian, Sephardi, Ashkenazi and French influences direct from Marseille, France. “... controlled chaos in action.” – NPR. With a Bay Area band founded by Jewlia Eisenberg, renowned for its eerie harmony, hot rhythm and radical braininess. “... a dazzling diverse palette of influences drawn from the Jewish and African diasporas, with Andalusian cadences and Pygmy polyphony...” SF Chronicle. Co-sponsored by Gaia Fund. Presented in association with New Frequencies, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts. 8pm. $20 students, seniors, YBCA and JCC East Bay members / $25 general Tickets: 1-415-978-2787 or www.jewishmusicfestival.orgWatcha clan myspace: http://www.myspace.com/watchaclan

July 22 & 24, 2010. SAMSON & DELILAH by CAMILLE SAINT-SAENS SAN FRANCISCO OPERA GRAND CINEMA SERIES. California Film Institute joins San Francisco Opera in presenting this inaugural cinema series, recorded in high-definition at San Francisco's historic War Memorial Opera House. One of the world's leading opera companies, San Francisco Opera is a destination for the greatest international singers, conductors, stage directors and designers. These beautifully filmed versions offer everyone the "best seat in the house" for these dynamic and innovative theatrical productions. The Rafael's high-definition presentations are scheduled for Thursday evenings and Saturday mornings in July, with "encore" shows in August. Please note that regular matinee prices do not apply for the Saturday morning shows. www.cafilm.org for details. The Biblical tale of a hero who is seduced by a woman and loses his heart, his hair and finally his strength, Samson and Delilah provides the context for a Cecil B. DeMille-like extravaganza set to Saint-Saëns' extraordinarily beautiful music. Tenor Clifton Forbisbrings down the house (and the temple), along with Russian mezzo-soprano Olga Borodina and conductor Patrick Summers. Sung in French with English subtitles. 155 min. plus two intermissions including backstage interviews.

September 16–October 17, 2010. SCAPIN! by MOLIERE
. Adapted by Bill Irwin and Mark O'Donnell
. Directed by and starring Bill Irwin.Two-time Tony Award winner—and A.C.T. favorite—Bill Irwin (A.C.T.'s Fool Moon, Texts for Nothing) returns to the Bay Area in Molière's chaotic classic. In this lively baggy-pants comedy, the rascally title character balances his penchant for mayhem and mischief with a promise to help two pairs of wide-eyed lovers. Irwin—who adapted, directs, and stars—uses commedia dell'arte, live music, and his trademark sophisticated clowning to turn this 17th-century farce of mistaken identities and theatrical mishaps into a sparkling tour de force perfect for all ages. 415.749.2250 orhttp://www.act-sf.orgfor details.

September 21-October 22, 2010. THE MARRIAGE OF FIGARO. San Francisco Opera. http://sfopera.com or 415.865.3330 for details.

October 7-9, 2010. SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY performs EDGARD VARESE’s AMERIQUES and more. San Francisco Symphony, 415.864.6000 or http://sfsymphony.org for details.

October 14, 2010. SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY performs RAVEL’s LE TOMBEAU DE COUPERIN and more. San Francisco Symphony, 415.864.6000 or http://sfsymphony.org for details.

October 24-November 12, 2010. CYRANO DE BERGERAC. . San Francisco Opera. http://sfopera.com or 415.865.3330 for details.

November 7, 2010. ENSEMBLE ZELLIG performs music by LEROUX, PECOU and others. Hertz Hall, Berkeley. 510.642.9988 or http://calperfs.berkeley.edu for details.

November 11-13, 2010. SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY performs RAVEL’s PIANO CONCERTO IN G and more. San Francisco Symphony, 415.864.6000 or http://sfsymphony.org for details.

November 21, 2010. OLIVIER LATRY, titular organist of the Cathedral of Notre-Dame de Paris, performs with the San Francisco Symphony. San Francisco Symphony, 415.864.6000 or http://sfsymphony.org for details.

December 17-19, 2010. MAGNIFICAT BAROQUE performs MARC-ANTOINE CHARPENTIER’S MESSE DE MINUIT / MIDNIGHT MASS. Magnificat has long championed the music of the remarkable Marc-Antoine Charpentier and this season we turn to his best-known work: the delightful Messe de Minuit (Midnight Mass). Drawing on the popular melodies of French Christmas carols, or noëls, Charpentier preserves their charming simplicity in achieving a perfect synthesis of popular art and the lush elegance of the Age of Louis XIV. The program will also include one of Charpentier’s evocative settings of the Nativity narrative and other seasonal music. http://magnificatbaroque.com/charpentier-midnight-mass/ for details.

January 6-9, 2011. SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY performs with HELENE GRIMAUD, piano. San Francisco Symphony, 415.864.6000 or http://sfsymphony.org for details.

January 13-15, 2011. SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY conducted by YAN PASCAL TORTELIER. San Francisco Symphony, 415.864.6000 or http://sfsymphony.org for details.

April 7–May 1, 2011. THE VIRTUAL STAGE & ELECTRIC COMPANY THEATRES PRODUCTION of NO EXIT, by JEAN-PAUL SARTRE.
Adapted from the French by Paul Bowles.
Conceived and directed by Kim Collier. U.S. Premiere. Fresh from sold-out performances across Canada, Jean-Paul Sartre's redefined classic makes its U.S. debut at A.C.T. A mysterious valet ushers three people into a shabby hotel room, and they soon discover that hell isn't fire and brimstone at all—it's other people arguing about their lives. Sartre's 1944 existential classic, skillfully reimagined through the perspective of a series of hidden cameras, turns the stage into a cinema, and the audience into voyeurs, as a thrillingly staged "live film" takes place before your eyes. A.C.T. continues its tradition of welcoming the work of innovative international artists to the Bay Area with this riveting multimedia event. 415.749.2250 or http://www.act-sf.org for details.

April 26, 2011. FLORIAN LAROUSSE, a young French classical guitar virtuoso, performs in the Dynamic Guitars Series. http://www.omniconcerts.com or 415.242.4500 for details.